YSR Congress Party
Encyclopedia
YSR Congress Party or Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party is an Andhra Pradesh
political party
founded by K.Shiva Kumar and was taken over by Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy ("Jagan"), the son of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister
late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ("YSR"). Both YSR and "Jagan" had been members of the Indian National Congress
. Jaganmohan Reddy was also elected as YSR Congress Party's national president.
("YSR"), his son Jaganmohan Reddy started an odarpu yatara (condolence tour), supposedly to console the families of those who had allegedly committed suicide or died of shock after the death of his father. This was however not supported by the leadership of the ruling Congress Party to which he belonged, due to the volatile state of AP politics regarding Telangana
issue. Defying the Congress high command's order to call off the tour, he went on to undertake "Odarpu Yatra". His tour drew large number of people to his meetings. In between, the Jagan-promoted Sakshi TV channel and Sakshi newspaper, had been continuously criticizing the then Andhra Pradesh
Chief Minister Konijeti Rosaiah
and Congress leadership at Delhi. In a special programme on Sakshi television to mark the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Congress party, a voice-over made remarks on Sonia Gandhi
and Manmohan Singh
on "sorry state of affairs" in the State, which invited anger and protests from various Congress Party groups and increased gap between Jaganmohan Reddy and Congress party. It later deleted those remarks in re-telecast. After accusing Congress party of ill-treating him and creating rifts in his family by luring Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy (younger brother of YSR) for a State cabinet post in the aftermath the death of Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy
, Jaganmohan Reddy and his mother Y. S. Vijaya Lakshmi resigned for Kadapa
Lok Sabha
and Pulivendula
Assembly constituencies respectively, as members of Congress party. The YSR Congress Party was registered at Election Commission of India
on K. Shiva Kumar as founder President from whom Jaganmohan Reddy took over the reign after Shiva Kumar's resignation.
in East Godavari
district. The next day i.e. on March 12, 2011 Jaganmohan Reddy made a formal announcement of YSR Congress Party and unfurled its flag in a simple public meeting at Idumulapaya. The blue-white-green coloured flag contains the image of the late Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in the centre, encircled by images of the various welfare schemes launched by him. Blue is symbolic of 'youth awakening', white stands for 'peace' while green symbolises 'agriculture'.this party has also a Kerala state unit Kunhillath Raghunath is the state unit president.
for those seats which were left vacant after the resignations of Y. S. Vijayamma
and Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy held on May 8 2011, in which the son and mother duo contested on behalf of the YSR Congress Party, were the first major and direct elections for the party. The Election Commission of India
allotted a ceiling fan
as the common symbol for YSR Congress contestants in this election. In by-elections Y. S. Vijayamma won the Pulivendula Assembly seat by a record majority of 85,191 votes, highest in that constituency. Jaganmohan Reddy won with a record high majority of 545,043 votes.
at the national level. He said that he had no problem with joining in a coalition agreement with the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance
, even though he has repeatedly alleged that Congress party has been targeting him and his father's legacy.
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
founded by K.Shiva Kumar and was taken over by Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy ("Jagan"), the son of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister
Chief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ("YSR"). Both YSR and "Jagan" had been members of the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
. Jaganmohan Reddy was also elected as YSR Congress Party's national president.
Background
After the death of former Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara ReddyY. S. Rajasekhara Reddy
Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy , popularly known as YSR, was a two-time Chief Minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. He is seen as the most popular chief minister of Andhra pradesh. His popularity is often attributed to various welfare schemes and development programs he championed for the...
("YSR"), his son Jaganmohan Reddy started an odarpu yatara (condolence tour), supposedly to console the families of those who had allegedly committed suicide or died of shock after the death of his father. This was however not supported by the leadership of the ruling Congress Party to which he belonged, due to the volatile state of AP politics regarding Telangana
Telangana
Telangana is a region in the present state of Andhra Pradesh, India and formerly was part of Hyderabad state which was ruled by Nizam. It is bordered with the states of Maharashtra on the north and north-west, Karnataka on the west, Chattisgarh on the north-east and Orissa to the east...
issue. Defying the Congress high command's order to call off the tour, he went on to undertake "Odarpu Yatra". His tour drew large number of people to his meetings. In between, the Jagan-promoted Sakshi TV channel and Sakshi newspaper, had been continuously criticizing the then Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
Chief Minister Konijeti Rosaiah
Konijeti Rosaiah
Konijeti Rosaiah is the current Governor of Tamil Nadu and a former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. He was previously an MLC, MLA & MP of the Indian National Congress numerous times and has handled many ministerial posts over his long political career spanning over half a century...
and Congress leadership at Delhi. In a special programme on Sakshi television to mark the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Congress party, a voice-over made remarks on Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi is an Italian-born Indian politician and the President of the Indian National Congress, one of the major political parties of India. She is the widow of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi...
and Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh is the 13th and current Prime Minister of India. He is the only Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to return to power after completing a full five-year term. A Sikh, he is the first non-Hindu to occupy the office. Singh is also the 7th Prime Minister belonging to the Indian...
on "sorry state of affairs" in the State, which invited anger and protests from various Congress Party groups and increased gap between Jaganmohan Reddy and Congress party. It later deleted those remarks in re-telecast. After accusing Congress party of ill-treating him and creating rifts in his family by luring Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy (younger brother of YSR) for a State cabinet post in the aftermath the death of Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy
Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy
Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy , popularly known as YSR, was a two-time Chief Minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. He is seen as the most popular chief minister of Andhra pradesh. His popularity is often attributed to various welfare schemes and development programs he championed for the...
, Jaganmohan Reddy and his mother Y. S. Vijaya Lakshmi resigned for Kadapa
Kadapa
Kadapa , formerly Cuddapah, is a city in the south-central part of Andhra Pradesh, India . The city's name originated from the Telugu word "Gadapa" meaning threshold or gate...
Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
and Pulivendula
Pulivendula
Pulivendula, also known as Pulivendla is a town, a mandal and a Municipality in YSR district, Andhra Pradesh, India.-Geography:Pulivendla is located at . It has an average elevation of 272 meters .-Major features:...
Assembly constituencies respectively, as members of Congress party. The YSR Congress Party was registered at Election Commission of India
Election Commission of India
The Election Commission of India is an autonomous, quasi-judiciary constitutional body of India. Its mission is to conduct free and fair elections in India...
on K. Shiva Kumar as founder President from whom Jaganmohan Reddy took over the reign after Shiva Kumar's resignation.
Announcment
On March 11, 2011, Reddy formally announced the name of the new party at a public meeting at JaggampetaJaggampeta
Jaggam-peta or Jagg-amma-peta is a village and a Mandal in East Godavari district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. -Geography:Jaggampeta is located at...
in East Godavari
East Godavari
East Godavari District is a district situated on the northeast of the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. Its district headquarters is Kakinada. It is the second richest district in the whole country...
district. The next day i.e. on March 12, 2011 Jaganmohan Reddy made a formal announcement of YSR Congress Party and unfurled its flag in a simple public meeting at Idumulapaya. The blue-white-green coloured flag contains the image of the late Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in the centre, encircled by images of the various welfare schemes launched by him. Blue is symbolic of 'youth awakening', white stands for 'peace' while green symbolises 'agriculture'.this party has also a Kerala state unit Kunhillath Raghunath is the state unit president.
First elections
Although the party had contested Member of Legislative Council elections after its birth, the by-electionBy-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
for those seats which were left vacant after the resignations of Y. S. Vijayamma
Y. S. Vijayamma
Y. S. Vijayalakshmi Reddy known as Y. S. Vijayamma is an Indian politician from Andhra Pradesh. She now belongs to YSR Congress Party.- Political career:Y. S. Vijayamma, wife of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S...
and Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy held on May 8 2011, in which the son and mother duo contested on behalf of the YSR Congress Party, were the first major and direct elections for the party. The Election Commission of India
Election Commission of India
The Election Commission of India is an autonomous, quasi-judiciary constitutional body of India. Its mission is to conduct free and fair elections in India...
allotted a ceiling fan
Ceiling fan
A ceiling fan is a fan, usually electrically powered, suspended from the ceiling of a room, that uses hub-mounted rotating paddles to circulate air....
as the common symbol for YSR Congress contestants in this election. In by-elections Y. S. Vijayamma won the Pulivendula Assembly seat by a record majority of 85,191 votes, highest in that constituency. Jaganmohan Reddy won with a record high majority of 545,043 votes.
September 2011 announcement
On September 6, 2011, party president "Jagan" Reddy ruled out returning back to the Congress party or joining with the Bharatiya Janata Party, as well as ruling out any deal with the BJP-led National Democratic AllianceNational Democratic Alliance (India)
The National Democratic Alliance is a centre-right coalition of political parties in India. At the time of its formation in 1998, it was led by the Bharatiya Janata Party and had thirteen constituent parties. Its convenor is Sharad Yadav, and its honorary chairman is former prime minister Atal...
at the national level. He said that he had no problem with joining in a coalition agreement with the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance
United Progressive Alliance
The United Progressive Alliance is a ruling coalition of center-left political parties heading the government of India. The coalition is led by the Indian National Congress , which is currently the single largest political party in the Lok Sabha...
, even though he has repeatedly alleged that Congress party has been targeting him and his father's legacy.